Phonograph



Aug. 25, 1942. e. F. ERICKSON 2,293,723

' PHONOGRAPH Filed June 14; 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 25, 1942.." G. F. ERICKSONV 2,293,723

' PHONOGRAPH Filed Sum 14, 1940' a She ets-Sheet 3 g- 1942- ..F. ERICKSON 8' 2,293,723

PHONOGRAPH Filed June 14, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 97 4 a, I a 2E 27 Aug. 25, 1942. G 'F ERiCKS H 2,293,723.

PHONOGRAPH Filed June 14, 1940 8'Sheets-Sheet 6 3 Aug. 25, 1942. G. F. ER ICKS ON 7 2,293,723 I PHONOGRAPH Filed June 14, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 25, 1942.

G. F. ERICKSON PHONOGRAPH Filed- June 14, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 QWSWNKM E 88 tuba Nu xknia an $5.3m

Edam? finial] Fl nt/ 6 02 Patented Aug. 25, 1942 .oFFlcE PHONOGRAPH Gustav F. Erickson, Chicago, 111., assignor to l James E. Johnson, Chicago, Ill.

,7 V pAppiicationJuneH, 1940, Serial No. 340,41s I SClaims. (cum-my This invention relates; to phonographs and, among other objects. aimsto provide a simple and improved phonograph for making records and for supplying successive record blanks t and removing completed recordsfrom the record'making mechanism.

The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrative phonograph embodying theinvention and shown in the accompanying drawings. 4

Insaid drawings: a a

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus and itshousing;

Fig. 2 is a plan section taken on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig.3 is a-Irear elevation ofa portionof the apparatus'showing the :coin controlling devices; 1 Fig. 4 is a plan view. (taken approximately from the-plane 4,4- of- Fig; 1) of the phonographic apparatus; j

Fig. 5 is a. bottom planview of the same apparatus taken approximatelyfrom the plane 5-5 of '-;Fig.-6 is a sectional elevation .ofthe phonographicapparatus taken onathe plane 6-6 of 'Fig. 7 is an elevationof-details of the phonographic apparatus taken from the plane 1-1 of Fig. 6, and particularly the mechanism for returning the cutting head to initial position;

FigFB is an elevation 'of the operating devices for the record blank carrier;

' Fig; -9 is :an elevation of th "mechanism for raising and returning the tone or-playingrarm to initi'al'position; i

Fig. 10 is a detail showing a latch for holding the cutting head ininitial position; 1

10 nism, and delivery thereof. An important opercharacter and the record may be played on any standard phonograph. Before delivery the present apparatus automatically plays the record for the benefit of the operator or for other purposes, A complete cycle, therefore, includes making (ong a blank previously placed in the recording apparatus) a record from sound impulses. in'this instance electrically transmitted to the recording apparatus, playing of the completed record, re-. moval of the record. from the recording mechaatlon of general application is the removal of the cuttings or shavings (produced by the cutting stylus during the making of the record) tozprevent interference with any portion of the apparatus.

The recording apparatus may advantageously be of standard design including 'a conventional motor driven turntable 20, and a cutting head or stylus.2l (Figs. 4, 5 and 6). The illustrative recording mechanism is driven by a synchronous motor 22 which rotates,- through appropriate reshaft 21 on which the turntable is'mounted' is in .this instance employed to drive (through reduction gearing 28) a worm 29 (Fig. 5) for advancing the stylus or cutting head arm 30 at the proper rate (in this case from the periphery toward-the center of the disc) during the recording operation. The shaft 3| carrying the cutting head arm 30' extends downwardly through the top plate Figgli is an elevation of the record removing and-cuttingsdischarge mechanism; w h

Fig.12 is aportion' of suchlmechanism in initial position;

' Fig. 13 is an elevation of the'recordblank magazine and its feeding mechanism;

j 1 141s a bottom plan viewof' such mechanism taken'from'the plane 14- of Fig. 13; 15 is a section of. a detail taken on the plane-l5-*-i 5ofFig. '13;.and

161s adia grain' of thefa'ctuating-and controlling'circuitsf The illustrative apparatus represents only one practical application of the-invention; In this instance the apparatus "is coin controlled and oprates'upon'ideposit of a acoin-tomake a sound upon completion.

32 and carries a swinging arm 33 provided with a min 34 adapted operatively to engage and be moved by the rotation of worm 29 Shaft 3| is verti-. cally slidable in its bearing 35 to lift the head and its cutting stylus 36 from the record and simul taneously to disengage .the swinging arm 33 from worm 29- to permit return of the cutting head to initial position. The lifting operation is here effected .by a cam. 31 acting on cam roller 3 8v carried at the lower end of shaft 3|. During the recording operation, shaft'3l isin its lower position with roller 38 riding on the'low portion 39 of'cam 31. Upon completion of the recording operation, the high part 40 of cam 31 is rotated to elevate shaft 3| andLparts connected thereto. When the cutting head and its swinging arm 33 are thus elevated, they are swung to their initial positions by operating mechanism here represented by a pin 4 icarried on control shaft 42 (on which cam 31 is also mounted). When the leading edge of the high portion 40' of the cam engages" roller .38 and raises =the swinging arm and the cutting .head,=pin 4i engages the side of ll (opposite that shown in Fig. 7) to move it outwardly to initial position, in which position it is held by latch 43. Pin II is made of such length as to clear the loweredge of arm 33 when the latter is swung to its outer position. The

:becomes disengaged from latch 43 when it is lowered as aforesaid. A spring N (Fig. 7) insures the downward movement of arm 33 and its cutting head at the proper time in the cycle. The swinging arm-13 is advantageously made flexible (in this instance by means, of a leaf spring ll) ina vertical but not transverse di-.

this case by bevel gears II. The electromagnetic device 48 may advantageously be energized by low voltage direct current supplied byan inexpemsive rectifier or power pack 04 energized by commercial-110 volt alternating current. a

Actuating cam '2 (P18. 8) is designed an located on shaft 42 to eiiect'the-record transferoperation when the cutting stylus is in elevated position. The elevating and swingin operation. of the arm occurs when the high Portion I of the cam engages a roller ll. At about thetimethisoccuraswitchlisclosedandthe magnet is energized. At the completion of the rection, and the swingin arm is thereby prevented from interfering with proper pressure of the cutting stylus It on the record.

Control shaft It, on which cam 31 is mounted,

carries other cams (presently described) for sequentially controlling other operations of the apparatus. In this case. it makes a single revolution (in a counterclockwise direction) for each complete cycle. I

Record blanks 4t are-supplied from magazine 41 wherein they are stacked in this instance in contact with each other. The mechanism for transferring a record from'the magazine to the turntable 2. is here shown in the form of an electromagnetic lifting-device 4! carried on oscilldting arm 48. Arm 4! is mounted on a vertically slidable shaft II, the lower end of which ,is pro vided with a cam roller ll riding upon l2. mounted on control shaft 42. Arm I is moved from its position above .the magazine to position I I3 above the turntable II by an operating device in the form of a pin ll rotating with shaft I! and adapted to engage a proiectionithe pin ll) carrledonshaft ll. Armltismovedinthere- .proximatelythethicknessofablank. Thead-' verse directionby a helical sp i It, partly wound around the lower end of shaft I. The

armisarrestedinpositionabovethemagaaine by engagement of pin II with stop '1. In'this position the electromagnetic lifting device a registers substantially with the center of'a record disc and when the low portion ll of cam]! reaches roller ll, spring "lowers the electromagnetic device into contact or substantially into eontactwithtbeupperrecordblankinthe Therecordblankaoratleasttheircentnl portions, are made magnetic and by meansof suehmagnetiecentralportionstheblankn aybe lifted-by themagnet whe'nthelatterisenergiaed." Elevation of shaft "and swinging'of the swinging movement, can roller Ii rides down on the lower portion '6 'of the cam (lowering the record blank over the turntable) at which time magnet ll is deenergizedto release the blank and spring "returns the transfer arm-to initial position (pin 54 having cleared pin II).

The held of magnet it is adjusted by a rheostatt'l tosuchstrengthaswillpickuponlya' single record. leaving the subiac'ent record blank In the present instance the records are made;

of a relatively thin gauge of sheet iron having a coating 68 in which the cutting stylus It makes the sound record. The coating may advantageously terminate at I iustbeyond the farthest inward travel of the cutting stylus. Only the portion 0! the record engaged'by the electromagnet 48 need be magnetic. ,fllieet iron, however, besides being magnetic provides a relatively thin and rigid blank material at low cost. The illustrative blanks are made from 26 gauge (.018") metal.

Thestackofrecordblanksinthe'magazine is advantageously advanced each cycle by apvancing mechanism is here shown in the form ,of a follower 1| against which the blanks rest. Screw 12, on which the follower is carried, isadvanced by rotation in a ratchet nutll. The

ratchetteeth ll on thelatter are engaged bya pawl ll pivoted at ,1! on an arm ll oscillating arm It to position carries a blank into register with turntable that which time the record is lowered into close proximity with the turntable and'the magnet 48 is then deenergilod. allowing theblanktosettleontheturntablewiththeturm oi'verythinblankscarriedin tactwitheach otherinthemagasine. Thetransferandcarryabout screw 12. Pawl oscillating means is represpringll.

screw'llisheldsgainstrotationbyaretracttion by rotating the cross pin it (after'witb drawal from its slot ")1 to engage the shoulder ll (Fig. 15). When thus retracted, screw ll-may berotatedflnthisinstance'bycrankarm II) to lower the follower ll, approximately when -addi-,

tionalrecordblanksare ppliedtotheml'laasignallingdeviceintheform'ofamicro-switch lttosignalwhenthemagalineisem In the present instance the switch button tlgis en- 'gagedbycrankarmltwhentbelatterreachee.

The magazine is advantageo y provided with .ArmIIIis carried on verticallyslidable In the present apparatus the sound yibratio to be recorded are electrically delivered to the cutting stylus 00. The sound vibrations are picked up by microphone 94 of conventional design (in this case a so-called crystal microphone) amplified inconventional amplifying apparatus 80, and delivered to the cutting stylus.

The present apparatus is also provided with "play-back" mechanism for reproducing the recording. Such mechanism is here shown in the form of a so-called tone arm 80 and a reratus 95 from which they are delivered appro-- priately amplified to the loud speaker. The latter preferably is provided with volume control device by which the operator may control ent apparatus the tone arm 96 is placed inand out of operation automatically'by devices actuated by control shaft 42. Such mechanism is the volume of the sound delivered. In the presserves to transmit vertical movement to shaft l ii (Fig. 11); 'z 'swinging movementmfxdeliveryi arm I I I is effected by enga'gement. ofcfcam'aarmt 2H0 with spin I20 projecting slaterallywfrom shaft I II. Cam arm'CtII 0 rotates-with controli'shaft'vfl being here shown connectedto the sideiofscani I II. An elongatedahelical spring;I2'I -.-:-partially around ashaft" I I 012 serves $.t031'0t8'fl5 the latter and delivery arm. to -initial:position when cam armYIIS clearsrpinil20.='. A spring1:22 around shaft I I3 serves; to lower therfiatter Lshaftuand hold its: conical extremityse-l 231:. engagement with a bearing lplate I24: laterally-extending; from link I I0. ri stop" I; islocated in .positiomtoibe engaged :by projecting. pini @120 -:to': arrest-the delivery. arm in its'.-initialiposition register with the center of the turntableflew 5: 2 i

The lifting magnet 'II 2; is :.-'energizedt;.:and:* deenergized by switch' 9 ";(1 lgm14): 'Land its controlling cam: I26 r'in phase; with sthe -operation= of delivery'arm and its operating-Emechanisrm represented by an elevating cam 90 and a swing- 1 ,ing arm I00, both. mounted on and driven by a control shaft 42 (Figs. 6 and 9). Cam 09 operates to elevate tone arm 00 and hold the same in elevated position until the same is lowered to engage a record. The tone. arm oscillates about a vertically slidable shaft III to which it is pivoted for vertical movement. The

pivot connection is here shown inthe form of.

a bent metal clip I02 connected at one end to shaft IM and carrying at its other end the vtransverse pivot pin I00.

the playing operation, tone arm 96 is elevated by cam 99 and at approximately the same time'is swung to initial position by engagement of arm I00 with a projection I04 extending laterally from shaft IOI. When in initial position,- arm I00 clears projection I04; A stop I05 locates the arm in initial position. The stop also advantageously'carries a limiting stop I00 which limits the travel of the arm toward the center of the disc and prevents the same from swinging substantially beyond the playing zone of the record.

Cam 89 carries a low portion I01 so oriented that it permits the lowering of tone arm (under action of spring I00) into playing contact with the record upon completion of the'recording operation. Shaft III is pivoted at I09 to its cam roller IIO to permit the former to rotate freely as the playing arm follows the record. During playing, arm I00 lies clear of the path of movement of projection I on shaft IOI.

Upon completion of the playing of the record,

to elevate arm =90 about its transverse pivot III.

In' the present phonograph the completed record isthen automatically removed from the turntable and delivered to'the operator by mechanism next described. Such mechanismis here sho'wninthe form ofaswinging arm III carrying an electromagnet II: bymeans of whichthe record is lifted from the turntable and transferred to the delivery pointcfl'lgs. 4', n and i2).

shaftJIl with'which are associated the arm actuating devices.- Vertical movement is effected by cam IN (on control shaft '02) against whiclLbefl-rfl cam roller III onlever IIO (Fig. 11).

m x minimum In tobracket m and 75 ated with the record. deliverymechanism. The

Upon completion of cuttings are thread-.likeain character;:i generally being continuous. 1' As :theyuleave .the stylus-they fall coiled loosely on the central. blank. ortion of the disc around the-magnetI-IIwhose exterior in this instance is cylindrical.:. (see Fig: 1 12) Upon completion of-th'e: recording operation, the stylus is raised from therecord' andmoved out- I wardly towards 'initialposition. q In doing so,: ,the stylus tends to carryaportion of the thread-like cuttings outwardly, thereby pulling tthe'. :coil .of cuttings against ;the surface? of magnet I I! with the result-that the continued :rotation .of the turntable I wraps: the coatings rather closely around'the magnet, pullingr-them=away from and clearing thev stylus. JJThe cuttings are thenv carried with the record asit is removed fronr: the turntable'for delivery. ,5,

Means in the form.'of;.a"stripping device: III is advantageously provided for stripping .the ,cut-

/ tings from themagneti'l II and'allowing the same of the magnet.

to fall with" the record-clear of-ithe phonograph mechanism; The stripping device .is here-shown in the form. ofa ring closely.=.-surrounding.,the magnet and *sl'idable thereon from: the idle position shownin Fig.v lato-the discharge position shown in Fig. 11. Preferablythe underface. 132' of the stripping .ring isvbevelled :to aid .--in D. centrating; the cuttings around the. lower.- portion The stripper actuating .mechanism sis .311 here shown inrthe form ;of= a; lever; I33 carriedtwlth and pivoted onwarnr III? at llh The; forward I end III of: leverfluisi adapted -.to=.engagex asyoke I00 on zstripping ringalll andto-depressrthe 7 same, againstthe tension'of';spring-.I0'|. fromits upper position:'(1'ig.=; 1'2) .toflitsxdischargemoaition (Fig.1!) The -:end:;; of thel'jleverg'i'si forked at m to" straddle thenoai culammd; tlr o- Lever-"lie we stationary cam I4II' upon which the lever roller I4l rides as they record is moved todelivery position to depress stripping ring III to discharge s eaves v the'shaft at the desired speed and. in this in f stance, through only a'single revolution during the cuttings III in the manner illustrated in The operation of the blank record carrier 44 is synchroniredto carry a record from the magazine to the turntable while the delivery carrier III is removing a record from the turntable and discharging it at the delivery point. The operation of these carriers occurs, therefore, substantially simultaneously, therebyminimizing loss of time in Supplying a record blank upon the completion of the previous record. This is important where the sound to be recorded requires more than a single record.

The turntable is advantageously provided with a depresslble driving pin I42 adapted to enter .aneccentric hole I43 in the record blank to insure driving of the record with the turnable. For

this purpose the record blanks are,- therefore. provided with the eccentric driving hole located at a radial distance from the center equal to that of driving pin I42. The pin is depressed,

when the record blank is placed on the turntable, against a light spring I44. Upon rotation of the turntable, the inertia of the record genorally causes it to slip on the tumtableluntil registry of the driving hole with pin I42 at which time the pin is forced upwardly by its'spring to effect a positive drive. is particularly important for lightweight records. I s

The illustrative apparatus is coin controlled.

The deposit of a coin of the proper denomination inaugurates the cycle of operations which continues automatically and concludes with the delivery of a record in the discharge chute. Coin controlling apparatus of standard design available on the market may be employed. Its de-v tails form no part of the present invention. Generally the coin controlling apparatus embodies mechanism enclosed in the housing I45 by which counterfeits and coins of improper denominathe entire cycle ofoperations of the apparatus. The mountings for motor I48 and also motor 22 are preferably cushioned either by soft rubber or springs to dampen both mechanical vibration and magnetic vibration caused by the alternating current. Vibration of any character is likely to be picked up and' amplified by the recording or play-back mechanism. Separate, though ooordinated, control of thevarious operations, by

'the switch cams and cam control switches on control shafts 42 and 42, makes each operation independent of the preceding operation, thereby greatly simplifying control and synchronization of the various operations.

a; The diagram of m. 1a illustrates "the control andsynchronization'of the operation of the various elements of the apparatus. Power in this instance is furnished by commercial 110 -'volt alternating current supply, the lines being provided with the conventional main fuses I45 and main switch I46. The turntable and cam shaft motors 22 and Illand the record-making and play back," mechanism are operated with- 110 volt alternating current. The diagram is.

suppliedwith descriptive legends and reference characters, and detailed tracing of the several. circuits will, therefore, be unnecessary. A brief catalog ofsequence of operations will suillce:

Upon deposit'of'an appropriatecoin in the coin slot I46, switch I44 is momentarily closed. This switch then energizes the starting relay I49 and its'switch, the latter being held closed control shaft 42 and 42 thus inaugurates theseveral operations of the apparatus; A blank as above pointed out by'the opening of the "stopping"-relay I50. Closing of the 8 starts cam shaft motor. III, its .controlling switch II being already closed. Rotation of the record having already been placed on the tumtion are by-passed' to prevent operation of the mechanism. When a coin of proper denomination is introduced in the'coin slot I48 at the front of the apparatus, it passes through the mechanism I4land engages an actuating lever 141 to close relay switch I48. Momentary closingof the latter energizes startlng"- relay I49.

The latter is then held in closed position by table (during the delivery of the previous com pleted record), the turntable motor is started through closing of its switch I 2, micro-switch 90 1 being in "on" position, assuming that the magazine contains some records. The cuttinghead is also lowered-on the record and its circuit enthe "stopping"v relay IIII (Fig. 3) which swings outwardly and mechanically holds relay I49 closed. Subsequent opening of switch I48 does not, therefore, interrupt operations. Starting relay I49 remains'closed until the stopping relay I50 is energized to clear relay I48 and permit the sametoopen.

Coin slot I46 is in this instance providedwith means, I5I (Fig. 3) for closing the slot when the blank record magazine is energized. The closing means is actuated by magnet coil I52 connected in parallel with the magazine empty" signal and is energized by micro-switch 90.

As stated earlier, switches I to l2 which control the electrical functions of the apparatus are opened and closed in proper sequence by cams (see Fig. 7) mounted on auxiliary control shaft 7 42 which rotates in phase with control shaft 42. As above pointed out, the latter shaft operates and synchronizes the operation of the'several' mechanical functions of the apparatus. Control shafts 42 and" are, in the present apparatus, driven by a synchronous motor I53 through re- 'duction gearing m and its: designed to rotate ergized through closing of its control switch 4. Microphone switch I is also closed.- (In this connectionit should be noted that the microphone and pick up circuits are shielded by metal shields which, in the conventional manner, form a portion of the circuit.) At that time the start" signal is lighted (by the closing of its switch 8) and the operator then delivers to the microphone the sound to be recorded. The apparatus advantageously is provided with a warning signal (here designated as a "10 second" signal) which notifies the operator of the approaching termination of the recording period. Such signal is in the form of a light illuminated at the proper time by the closing of switch 1. At the end of the recording time, a further .signal (designated as record finished") notifies the operator of theend of the recording period.

This signal is displayed .upon the closing of.

Pl y back. thepick-up arm is elevated andfthe closing of its control switch 8 and remains energized until the blank record is centered on the turntable. The carrier arm then returns to its position over the magazine. The stop relay" is then energized through the closing of switch III with the resultant opening of starting relay and the stopping of cam shaft motor I53.

The record is of such character that it may safely be sent through the mail in an appropri.- ate mailing envelope. It may carry messages now transmitted by letter and indeed it may be prepared much more quickly and at less cost than a typewritten letter. The fidelity with which it is \OW possible to record the voice makes such a record even more authentic than a signed letter. If desired, the apparatus may be en'- closed in a soundproof booth which insures privacy in the making of the record.

The invention has, of course, a variety of uses and is not limited to the details of the illustrative apparatus. Moreover it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly since various features may be employed to advantage in different combinations and subcombinations.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a. phonograph the combination comprising recording mechanism including a cutting stylus, a transfer arm adapted to lift and remove a completed record from the recording mechanism, said arm having a device in engagement with the record about which the cuttings from the stylus wind, and means operative on the refrom saiddevice.

2. A phonograph comprising in combination a magazine adapted to hold a stack of .=record blanks, each having a magnetic portion, rec'ordmoval of the record for discharging the cutting ing mechanism including a turntable, a transfer arm having an electromagnet adapted to attract the magnetic portion of avrecord blank,

means for elevating said arm to liftthe record.

10 from the magazine and for moving'the arm laterally to carry the record to the recording mech- 1 V anism, and means for controlling the magnetic field of said magnet to limit its lifting power to a single record.

3. A phonograph comprising in combination recording mechanism including a record cutting stylus, automatic means for removing a completed record .from the recording mechanism,

and a device operating with said record removing means for accumulating and removing the stylus cuttings from said recording mechanism.

4. A phonograph comprising in combination recording mechanism including a turntable and cutting stylus which in operation forms an elongated thread like cutting, a transfer arm for removing a record from the recording mechanism, and means associated with said arm for discharging the shavings formed by the cutting stylus.

5. A phonograph ,comprising in combination a magazine holding a plurality of record blanks stacked one in contact with the other, said records being made of thin sheet material, each having a centering hole and thecentral upper surface thereof being magnetic, recording mechanism including a turntable, record transfer mechanism including an electromagnet adapted to attract the magnetic portion of the upper record blank for lifting a record from the magazine and transferring the same tothe turntable, and means for controlling the magnetic field of'said magnet to limit this lifting power to a single record.

GUSTAV F. ERICKSON. 

